home education

[yoshysmum]

Hi

My ds is becoming more and more distressed over school he is having meltdowns after school almost daily.

The school do not understand as ds is very well behaved at school, they do not seem to see that he is really struggling and won't ask for help.

They do know he is falling behind though due to his dyspraxia and AS.

It is really distressing to see my previously cheerfull chappy coming home saying he is thick and stupid and hates himself. He is self harming over it.

I was jjust wondering how you go about home ed, do you get support? Do you have to follow the national curriculum?

Many thanks in advance

I was in the same situation as you. My ds was extremely distressed at school, and I eventually took him out in Jan.

As for support we don't receive any, even though my ds is still statemented. Though to be fair I haven't asked. But I have heard it's difficult getting support from professionals once you home ed, though their are some wonderful home ed groups.

You do not have to follow the NC at all, I know parents who allow their child to lead, basically let their child learn what they choose, and they are very happy with the results. I wouldn't be able to do this with my son as he would choose to do nothing!!

If you do decide to go down the home ed route, you need to write to the school and let them know of your decision, it's not even your responsibility to contact the LEA.

There is a home ed section on MN, you might like to take a look, they know everything there is to know about home educating.

Good luck, I know it's not an easy decision to take.

I home-edded DS1 for a bit for similar reasons. Then we moved area and found a tiny school that really suits him so he was happy to return to school.

After a rather frosty reception from the home-ed inspectors, they wrote saying "we are coming to your house on this day" I wrote back saying, "no way, Ds has anxiety (not diagnosed AS at that point) and home is his safe haven, happy to meet else where". They agreed meeting at council office.

When we arrived and showed massive volume of work DS had done (nothing like being prepared and starting off how you don't need to go on ) frosty woman thawed and became very helpful. She even found me an OT writing course for DS to do as that is an area he struggles with.

The paed and CAMHS were quite happy he was going to be home-edded as long as he still got to meet other children eg at Boys Brigade, his OT classes etc.

Thanks for all your advice, I will be going for a look in the home education section

You could be describing my son! I think about this all the time because the battle to get him even basic help at school seems overwhelmingly stressful. Is it worth it? I'm not sure. Could I manage with him at home short term? Absolutely!

It's long-term that concerns me.

weve just started home ed and its not easy but felt we were forced to go this route because no help in maths exam, french ta couldnt spell etc. Our ds has severe dyslexia and her morale had hit rock bottom and arguments at home were bad. Been told your doing average for a dyslexic isnt good enough in our book. Some teachers were good but others were giving d detention etc. Three years fighting with the lea and isnt no easy find which school if any is going to be suitable got no money re private etc.now d is 5yrs behind with her reading not 4 when she started.

Ds is about 2 years behind now despite us being told he was amazingly clever in reception, he has made no more progress despite me going up to the school umpteen times to try to get something done about it.

Last year [year 1] we asked for extra writing practice homework and recieved just one piece all year.

I know my son is capable of working as when he has me doing one 2 one, explaining things in the small steps he needs, he can do it. His writing has gone back at school after really leaping forwards in the summer holidays, because I was working one to one with him, and he really enjoyed it too, kept asking for more work.

The school has no children statemented out of 150 children, so there is no extra support in place.

I know i could manage at home with him. At the moment it seems the only way forwards.

Why can't/won't schools do something to help children who are so far behind? It's beyond me.

'Could I manage with him at home short term? Absolutely! It's long-term that concerns me'

Here here!!